Textile yarn spinning machine with roving interruption apparatus and slotted guides

ABSTRACT

Manual reinstitution of production of an attenuated strand, by a drafting system of a textile yarn spinning machine which cooperates with a device for interrupting feeding of roving strands, is facilitated by the provision of slotted guides or trumpets constructed for receiving a roving strand by lateral movement of an intermediate portion of a running length of the strand relative to the guide.

United States Patent McClure 1 1 Sept. 3, 1974 [54] TEXTILE YARNSPINNING MACHINE 3,726,072 4/1973 Ford et al. 57/83 X WITH ROVINGINTERRUPTION 2,064,397 12/1936 Smyth 57/86 2,076, 51 4 1937 Kono 19/288XR APPARATUS AND SLOTTED GUIDES 3,452,531 7/1969 Watson 57/86 [75]Inventor: Robert E. McClure, Laurinburg, 1.509234 9/1924 Garey 57/86 N,C2,430,611 11/1947 Gwaltney et al. 19/291 XR 2,357,982 9/1944 Thomas eta1. 19/291 XR [73] Ass1gnee: Parks-Cramer Company, Fitchburg,

M ass Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins Flledi 1973 Attorney, Agent, orFirmParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park 21 Appl. No.: 409,039

[52] US. Cl 57/106, 57/36/57/83, [57] ABSTRACT 242/157 R 51 1111.01...1)0111 5/00,D01h 13/06 Manual of Producnon of an attenuated [58] Fieldof Search 57/1 R, 22, 51.5, 36, 78, Strand, by a drafting System of atextile yarn p g 57/80, 83, 90, 106; 242/544, 157 R machine whichcooperates-with a device for interrupting feeding of roving strands, isfacilitated by the pro- 5 References Cited vision of slotted guides ortrumpets constructed for re- UNITED STATES PATENTS I ceiving a rovingstrand by lateral movement of an intermediate portion of a runninglength of the strand 1,926,288 9/1933 Koch 57/36 X relative to theguide. 2,226,977 12/1940 Overbey 2,860,373 11/1958 Schmidt 242/157 R3,092,953 6/1963 Blackstockm, 57/106 X 4 Chums 4 Drawmg Figures TEXTILEYARN SPINNING MACHINE WITH ROVING INTERRUPTION APPARATUS AND SLOTTEDGUIDES It has heretofore been the practice, in the production of textileyarn from textile fibers through the use of textile yarn spinningmachines, to accommodate the interruption of yarn formation by breakageof an attenuated strand issuing from a drafting system by taking-up theattenuated strand issuing from the drafting system, using equipmentknown as vacuum end collection" systems. In such practices,reinstitution of yarn production (in the process known as piecing-up)has involved the joining of a strand of yarn to the attenuated strandissuing from the drafting system, either by a manual operation performedby an operator or by a mechanical operation performed by an appropriateapparatus. Suitable apparatus have been disclosed in a number of priorpatents, to which the interested reader is referred, including by way ofexample only U.S. Pat. No. RE. 26,360 to Escursell-Pratt; U.S. Pat. No.3,373,551 to Gillono etal.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,866 to Bell et al. andU.S. Pat. No. 3,486,319 to Lee et al.

More recently, it has been proposed that the roving strands normallyreceived by drafting systems of the textile yarn forming machine, to bedrawn and delivered as attenuated strands, be interrupted in the absenceof continuing production of yarn. Through interrupting delivery of theroving strands, certain difficulties and deficiencies possiblyencountered are avoided. A more complete understanding of the desirableresults thus achieved and. of a successful operating embodiment of suchapparatus may be gained from U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,072 to Ford et al.Other examples of roving strand feeding interruption devices may befound in the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,866 to Bell et a1; U.S.Pat. No. 3,498,039 to Kent et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,425 to Zegnaet al. 1

While various solutions proposed by the prior patented apparatus andmethods, briefly referred to hereinabove, have in certain instances beensuccessfully adopted, the interruption of roving strand feeding to adrafting system has been found to raise certain difficulties anddeficiencies. In practice, the reinstitution of the production of yarnby a particular drafting system along a textile yarn spinning machinemust be accomplished manually at least in part after roving strandfeeding has been interrupted. More specifically, where no attenuatedstrand is issuing from the drafting system, conventional manualpiecing-up or mechanical reinstitution of yarn production as describedby the aforementioned prior patents cannot be successfully attempteduntil the feeding of the roving strand is reinstituted. Practicalexperience with manual reestablishment of roving strand feeding has nowrevealed that certain unexpected difficulties are created by the effectof roving feed stop devices on the heretofore conventional constructionof textile yarn spinning machine drafting systems.

More particularly, it is conventional for a textile yarn spinningmachine drafting system to includea rear guide referred to as a trumpet"through which a roving strand passes to reach a corresponding draftingsystem. ln manually reinstituting drafting of a roving strand which hasbeen interrupted at a point spaced rearwardly from the trumpet, itisnecessary for an operator to thread the roving strand through theguide or trumpet, in an operation similar to threading the eye of aneedle. Such an operation, particularly where the trumpet is shieldedfrom view, it is difficult and time consuming, unduly lengthening thetime required to reinstitute production of yarn.

Having in mind the aforementioned difficulty, it is an object of thepresent invention to facilitate a reduction in the time required for anoperator to reinstitute production of an attenuated strand by a draftingsystem for which roving strand feeding has been interrupted. lnaccomplishing this object of the present invention, a textile yarnspinning machine which cooperates with means for monitoring the deliveryof attenuated strands and for interrupting feeding of roving strands isprovided with a plurality of slotted trumpet means. The trumpets arearranged in a series adjacent the series of drafting systems with eachof the trumpets being interposed between a corresponding drafting systemand the point of interruption of roving strand feeding. By the provisionof an outwardly opening slot passageway in each trumpet, roving strandsmay be introduced into the trumpet by lateral movement of anintermediate portion of a running length thereof, as distinct from thelongitudinal threading motion otherwise required.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atextile yarn spinning machine in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2is an elevation view, partially in section and partiallyshcematic, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view, taken generally along the line 33of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view, partially in section, showing aportion of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

The accompanying drawings and the description which follows set forththis invention in the best mode contemplated by the inventor at the timethat the drawings and description were prepared. However, it iscontemplated that persons generally familiar with the art of textilemanufacture will be able to apply the novel characteristics of thestructure illustrated and described in other contexts by modification ofcertain details. Accordingly, the drawing and description are not to betaken as restrictive on the scope of this invention, but are to beunderstood as a broad and general teach- Referring now more particularlyto FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of the textile yarn spinning machine'isthere illustrated which includes a plurality of drafting systemsrespectively generally indicated at 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d. Each of thedrafting systems comprises three cooperating sets of rolls including aset of rear rolls generally indicated at 11a (FIG. 2); front or deliveryrolls 12a and intermediate rolls 14a. As is generally known to personsfamiliar with textile yarn spinning machines of the type illustrated,the series of rolls 11a, 12a, 14a define a series of aligned nipsthrough which textile fiber generally indicated at F passes forattenuation. Adjacent the delivery rolls 12a is disposed a vacuum endcollection nozzle 16 into which attenuated fiber is delivered in theabsence of production of an attenuated strand or yarn Y. Delivery offiber F into the drafting system is accomplished by the delivery thereofof a roving strand R.

Cooperating with the plurality of drafting systems a, 10b, 10c and 10dwhich are arranged in a series is means for monitoring delivery of theattenuated strands Y and for responding to breakage of an attenuatedstrand by interrupting the feeding of the corresponding roving strand Rat a point in advance of introduction thereof into the correspondingdrafting system. In the form illustrated, this means generally is anembodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed in related US. Pat.No. 3,726,072 issued Apr. 3, I973 to Ford et al. To the extent that theillustrations and descriptions set forth in that prior patent arenecessary for a clear understanding of the present invention, they arehereby incorporated by reference into this description. It will be notedthat illustrations which accompany this description include showings ofroving feed stop mem bers generally indicated at a, 20b, 20c, 20d whichare mounted adjacent corresponding drafting systems for independentpivoting movement between a first position withdrawn from thecorresponding roving strand R (as illustrated in FIG. 1 and in the fullline position in FIG. 2) and a second position intersecting the rovingstrand (as shown in the phantom line position of FIG. 2). When a rovingfeed stop member 20a is moved to the second position (in accordance withthe operation described in aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,726,072) thefeeding of the corresponding roving strand R into the drafting system isinterrupted and the roving strand typically parts intermediate theroving feed stop device and the drafting system.

In accordance with this invention, the textile yarn spinning machine isprovided with a plurality of slotted trumpet means arranged in a seriesadjacent the series of drafting systems. One such slotted trumpet means,generally indicated at 21a, is visible in FIGS. 24. Each of the trumpetmeans is interposed between a corresponding drafting system and thepoint of interruption of roving strand feeding thereto. Preferably, aplurality of adjacent trumpet means are mounted upon a common supportbar 22, as by threaded fasteners such as a bolt 23 or the like whichpenetrates the trumpet means 210 and is threadingly received by the bar22.

The slotted trumpet means 21a has a central opening 24 for normallyguiding a corresponding roving strand into the corresponding draftingsystem. Preferably, the

face of the trumpet means 21a which is directed toward the source of theroving strand R has the converging surfaces characteristic of theinterior of the bell portion of a trumpet, from which the trumpet means21a derives such identification.

In order to facilitate reducing the time required for an operator toreinstitute production of an attenuated strand by, the correspondingdrafting system, after roving strand feed has been interrupted, thetrumpet means 21a has an outwardly opening slot passageway 25 extendingfrom the central opening 24 for receiving a roving strand into thecentral opening by lateral movement of an intermediate portion of arunning length of the roving strand (as indicated in FIG. 3).

Preferably, the outwardly opening slot passageway diverges radiallyoutwardly from the central opening (FIG. 3) to aid an operator inintroducing the roving strand R into the central opening 24. Further, itis preferred that the lower portion of the outwardlyopening slotpassageway 25 be generally aligned with the upper surface of the bar 22,in order than an operator may engage the roving strand R with the bar 22and slide the strand sideways of the bar and into the central opening ofthe slotted trumpet means.

In operation, an operator who desires to reinstitute production oftextile yarn at a drafting system where roving strand feed has beeninterrupted will return the corresponding roving feed stop device to thefirst position, by tipping the device upright. Then, the entrappedroving strand will be withdrawn from the device and grasped with twospaced apart hands of the operator (FIG. 1). The operator may then movethe intermediate portion of the running length of roving strand which isbetween the operators two hands into engagement with the bar 22,sideways along the bar 22 into the trumpet, and between the rear rolls11a. The operator then may release the roving strand and the rovingstrand will be carried by the operation of the drafting system throughthe remaining rolls and delivered by the front rolls 12a. Reinstitutionof the production of yarn Y then proceeds either by manual piecing-up orby mechanical operation as referred to hereinabove.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. In the combination of a textile yarn spinning machine having aplurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normallyreceiving a corresponding series of roving strands and delivering acorresponding series of attenuated strands, and

means for monitoring delivery of attenuated strands and for respondingto breakage of an attenuated strand by interrupting feeding of thecorresponding roving strand at a point in advance of introductionthereof into the corresponding drafting system,

an improvement which facilitates reducing the time required for anoperator to reinstitute production of an attenuated strand by a draftingsystem for which roving strand feeding has been interrupted, theimprovement comprising a plurality of slotted trumpet means arranged ina series adjacent the series of drafting systems, each of said trumpetmeans being interposed between a corresponding drafting system and thepoint of interruption of roving strand feeding thereto and having acentral opening for normally guiding a corresponding roving strand intothe corresponding drafting system, and

an outwardly opening slot passageway extending from said central openingfor receiving a roving strand into said central opening by lateralmovement of an intermediate portion of a running length of the rovingstrand.

2. Apparatus according to claim I further comprising mounting bar meansextending adjacent a plurality of the drafting systems for supportingthe plurality of said trumpet means corresponding thereto and furtherwherein said outwardly opening slot passageway of each of said trumpetmeans is directed toward said mounting bar means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outwardly opening slotpassageway of each of said trumpet means diverges radially outwardlyfrom said central opening thereof.

4. In the combination of means for monitoring delivery of attenuatedstrands and for responding to breakage of an attenuated strand byinterrupting feeding of the corresponding roving strand at a point inadvance of introduction thereof in the corresponding drafting system,

an improvement which facilitates reducing the time required for anoperator to reinstitute production of an attenuated strand by a draftingsystem for which roving strand feeding has been interrupted, theimprovement comprising a plurality of slotted guide means arranged in aseries adjacent the series of drafting systems, each of said guide meansbeing of a predetermined dimension longitudinally of a roving strandpassing therethrough and being interposed between a correspondingdrafting system and the point of interruption of roving strand feedingthereto and having a central opening converging toward the correspondingdrafting system for normally guiding a corresponding roving strand, and

a slot passageway extending for the full longitudinal extent of saidguide means and opening radially outwardly from said central opening forreceiving a roving strand into said guide means by lateral movement ofan intermediate portion of a running length of the roving strand.

a textile yarn spinning machine having a plurality of drafting systemsarranged in a series for normally receiving a corresponding series ofroving strands and delivering a corresponding series of attenuatedstrands, and

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF ORRECTMN Patent No. 3; 832839 Dated September- 13, 1974 Inventofls) E. McClure It is certifiedthat error: appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent arehereby corrected as shown bjelovh Column 2, line 32 correetthe selling of --schema.tic--' Reposition lines 11 1 50f Cblumnfibe'tw'egeh lines 1 and 2 of 5 K ,1.21ii11f2i9.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN MeCOY Ma GIBSON JR. Atteeting Officer Commissioner ofPatents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 I 0.8. Govnmann llmmnc orncz: nu o-au-naFORM PC4050 (l0-69)

1. In the combination of a textile yarn spinning machine having aplurality of drafting systems arranged in a series for normallyreceiving a corresponding series of roving strands and delivering acorresponding series of attenuated strands, and means for monitoringdelivery of attenuated strands and for responding to breakage of anattenuated strand by interrupting feeding of the corresponding rovingstrand at a point in advance of introduction thereof into thecorresponding drafting system, an improvement which facilitates reducingthe time required for an operator to reinstitute production of anattenuated strand by a drafting system for which roving strand feedinghas been interrupted, the improvement comprising a plurality of slottedtrumpet means arranged in a series adjacent the series of draftingsystems, each of said trumpet means being interposed between acorresponding drafting system and the point of interruption of rovingstrand feeding thereto and having a central opening for normally guidinga corresponding roving strand into the corresponding drafting system,and an outwardly opening slot passageway extending from said centralopening for receiving a roving strand into said central opening bylateral movement of an intermediate portion of a running length of theroving strand.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprisingmounting bar means extending adjacent a plurality of the draftingsystems for supporting the plurality of said trumpet means correspondingthereto and further wherein said outwardly opening slot passageway ofeach of said trumpet means is directed toward said mounting bar means.3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outwardly opening slotpassageway of each of said trumpet means diverges radially outwardlyfrom said central opening thereof.
 4. In the combination of means formonitoring delivery of attenuated strands and for responding to breakageof an attenuated strand by interrupting feeding of the correspondingroving strand at a point in advance of introduction thereof in thecorresponding drafting system, an improvement which facilitates reducingthe time required for an operator to reinstitute production of anattenuated strand by a drafting system for which roving strand feedinghas been interrupted, the improvement comprising a plurality of slottedguide means arranged in a series adjacent the series of draftingsystems, each of said guide means being of a predetermined dimensionlongitudinally of a roving strand passing therethrough and beinginterposed between a corresponding drafting system and the point ofinterruption of roving strand feeding thereto and having a centralopening converging toward the correspondinG drafting system for normallyguiding a corresponding roving strand, and a slot passageway extendingfor the full longitudinal extent of said guide means and openingradially outwardly from said central opening for receiving a rovingstrand into said guide means by lateral movement of an intermediateportion of a running length of the roving strand. a textile yarnspinning machine having a plurality of drafting systems arranged in aseries for normally receiving a corresponding series of roving strandsand delivering a corresponding series of attenuated strands, and